Budget includes funds for courthouse facelift

San Diego  With a sparkling new federal courthouse annex building getting ready for a formal dedication April 19, the federal government is now turning its attention back to the old courts and federal building.

President Barack Obama's proposed 2013-14 federal budget, revealed last week, includes a $61.1 million appropriation for a variety of work on the Edward J. Schwartz Courthouse and attached federal building on Front Street and Broadway in downtown San Diego.

The new 16-story annex has six courtrooms and 12 chambers for judges and magistrate judges, as well as office space for the court clerk, the IRS and other agencies.

The budget appropriation from the General Services Administration says the money will be used to reconfigure 184,000 square feet of space in the old buildings. The newly reconfigured space will be occupied by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Executive Office of Immigration Review, and the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Also getting space will be the clerk for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and U.S. Trustee, as well as the Federal Protective Service. All currently lease office space in the area, according to the budget document.

The proposed work will also include upgrading several building systems, such as a new emergency generator and new quick-response fire sprinkler heads. The plan also calls for remodeling bathrooms, reinforcing several exterior walls and installing an anti-ram barrier at the entrance to the garage for the building.

The annex building, directly to the west of the old courthouse, opened in November and has been gradually filling with tenants. The six courtroom operating on the upper floors are now open.

The April 19 ceremony will include a formal dedication and ribbon cutting.